Dentifrice dispenser



y 1954 w. H. BRISTOW 3,132,772-

DENTIFRICE DISPENSER Filed Jan. 2, 1962 United States PatentO 3,132,772 DENTIFRICE DISPENSER Willard H. Bristow, 1709 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles 41, Calif. Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,495 Claims. (Cl. 222-181) The present invention relates generally to dispensers for flowable materials, and is more particularly concerned with a dispenser for materials of a creamy consistency such as toothpaste and the like.

One object of the herein described invention is to provide a dispenser which is adapted to have the vendible container of the dispensed material placed in the dispenser, the dispenser having parts which are operable to force the material, when desired, from the container into a dispensing position of use.

It is a further object to provide a dispenser for flowable materials, such as toothpaste, which is so arranged that it may be manually operable to initially open a discharge gate, and thereafter in response to the manual operation advance a plunger which forces the material from the container into a dispensed position.

A still further object is to provide a dispenser which is arranged to receive the dispensable material within a substantially non-flexible container, which maybe made of a clear plastic or similar material.

Still another object is to provide in a toothpaste dispenser an arrangement of parts which permit the dispenser to be easily operated, and in which any desired amount of the material may be dispensed by successive manual operations.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispenser according to the present invention, portions being cut away to disclose details of construction; I

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a top View; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified manually operable means for the dispenser.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the dispenser of the present invention is shown as comprising a bracket support structure which includes a substantially cylindrical portion 11 of a suitable material such as a clear plastic. Rearwardly, the cylindrical portion is provided with bracket means 12 by which the support structure may be removably attached to a vertical surface such as a bathroom wall so as to be conveniently accessible. The uppermost end of the cylindrical portion is at right angles to the cylindn'cal axis, while the lowermost end is cut on an angular plane which is inclined downwardly and forwardly from the bracket means 12.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the forward side of the cylindrical portion 11 is provided with a vertically extending slot 13 which is bridged by upper and lower plate members 14 and 15 adjacent the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical portion.

The cylindrical portion 11 of the support structure is adapted to receive endwise downwardly therein a vendible container 16 which may be constructed of a substantially nonflexible material such as a clear plastic. The container is formed at one end with an end flange 17 which is adapted to seat on the uppermost end of the cylindrical portion 11, when the container is in a proper position in the cylindrical portion 11 of the dispenser. The lowermost end of the container is constructed with 3,132,772 Patented May 12, 1964 .a side discharge spout 18 which passes. longitudinally A plunger 19 is provided for forcing the material from the container through the discharge spout during a dispensing operation. This plunger comprises a piston formed by a disc 20 having a central recess or socket 21 which is adapted to removably receive the lowermost end of an associated piston rod 22. The'piston rod is provided substantially throughout its length with circumferentially extending surface teeth 23 which form in effect an elongate rack. The piston rod 22 in its upper portion is guidingly controlled by being positioned within a passage 24 of a swingably mounted lever 25 which is pivotally supported at one end by a pivot pin 26 between bracket lugs 27-27 secured to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 11. By removing the piston rod from the passage 24, as hereinafter explained, the lever 25 may be swungto a position such as shown in dotted lines to permit insertion of the container 16 into the cylindrical portion without interference. In the operative position of the lever 25, as shown in FIG. 1, the teeth 23 of the piston rod will be operatively associated with a pivoted pawl 28 supported on the lever 25 by means of a pivot pin 29. At its outermost end, the lever 25 is provided with an end slot 30 which results in the formation of spaced apart end portions 31 and 32 which are positioned above and in alignment with the upper and lower plate members 14 and 15. With this arrangement, downward swinging movement of the lever 25 acts through the pawl 28 to carry the plunger 19 in a downward direction. Return upper movement of the lever moves the pawl over the teeth 23 without moving the plunger.

The lower plate member 15 pivotally supports a gate member 33 for swinging movement which carries a cupshaped closure end portion 34 into a closed position over the side discharge spout, or an opened position permitting discharge of the material through the spout. Opening movement of the gate member 33 and feeding movement of the plunger 19 are coordinated through manually operable means which will now be described.

For operation of the dispensing device, there is provided an elongate actuating rod 35 which is, supported for reciprocable movement in the upper and lower plate members 14 and 15 respectively. The lowermost end of the actuating rod is connected by a pivoted link 36 to the gate member 33 in such a manner that, when the actuating rod is forced upwardly to a raised position by a compression spring 37, the gate member will be motivated to closed position over the spout 18. One end of the spring 37 bears against the lower plate member 15,

while the upper end of the spring bears against a retaining pin 38 carried by the actuating rod.

As shown in FIG. 1, a lost motion'connection is provided between the actuating rod and the outermost end of the lever 25. Such a connection is accomplished by providing in this case a contracted rod portion 39 which extends between the end portions 31 and 32 of the lever 25 and carries a push button or knob 40 at its outermost end. With this construction, spaced abutment shoulders 41 and 42 are provided. It will be observed that the shoulder 41 bears against the bottom of the lever in the raised position of the actuating rod 35. Now, as the knob 40 is depressed, the initial movement of the actuating rod will move the gate member away. from the end of the spout 18, and upon further movement the shoulder 42 will then engage the upper side of the lever 25 and 3 force the plunger downwardly so as to exude a charge of the material from the spout l8. Successive discharges may be accomplished by a plurality of downward movements of the knob 40.

The piston rod 22 is made of a length such that, when the disc reaches the bottom of the container 16, the piston rod will at this point be disengaged by pawl 28. Now, by removing the knob 40, the lever is freed for swinging movement to the dotted line position so as to facilitate the insertion of a new filled container.

Referring to FIG. 4, the operating mechanism may be modified by permanently mounting the contracted portion 39' for reciprocable movement in a. passage 43 at the outer end of the lever 25, and providing the lowermost end of the contracted portion 39' with an enlarged section 35 which is adapted to abut the upper end of the actuating rod 35 as indicated by the numeral 44. This arrangement faciiltates swinging of the lever to permit insertion of the container 16.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit oi my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for a flowable material, comprising:

(A) a bracket support structure;

(B) a tubular container for said material open at one end and having a restricted discharge opening at its other end,

(a) said container being adapted to be removably supported in an upright position in said bracket with the discharge opening disposed downwardly;

(C) plunger means reciprocable in said container including (a) a piston and (b) a piston rod having teeth thereon;

(D) a swingably mounted lever on said bracket;

(E) a push rod extending along and supported by said bracket for reciprocable movements to raised and lowered positions,

(a) said push rod having spaced abutments respectively engageable with an outer end portion of said lever during said rod movements;

(F) a gate member movable by said push rod to opened and closed positions with respect to said discharge opening;

(G) a spring normally biasing said push rod towards its raised position, whereby one of said abutments engages and swings said lever upwardly, and moves said gate to closed position; and

(H) a pawl carried by said lever for engaging said teeth and moving said plunger upon downward swinging movement ofsaid lever by engagement of the other of said abutments therewith due to manual downward movement of the push rod, such downward movement initially acting to open said gate member.

2. A dispensing device for allowable material, comprising:

(A) a bracket support structure;

(B) a tublular container for said material open at one end and having a restricted discharge opening at its r other end,

(a) said container being adapted to be removably supported in an upright position in said bracket with the discharge opening disposed downwardly;

(C) plunger means reciprocable in said container including (a) a piston and (b) a piston rod;

(D) a push rod extending along and supported by said bracket for reciprocable movements to raised and lowered positions;

(E) a gate member movable by said push rod to opened and closed positions with respect to said discharge opening;

(F) a spring normally biasing said push rod towards its raised position; and

(G) a connection between said push rod and said piston rod connecting them for unitary downward movement, but enabling independent and upward movement of the push rod with respect to said piston rod.

3. A dentifrice dispensing device, comprising:

(A) a bracket support structure;

(B) a tubular container for dentrifrice removably supsupported by said bracket,

(a) said container being open at one end and having a restricted side discharge opening adjacent its other end; i

(C) plunger means in said container;

(D) a vertical push rod supported by said bracket for endwise movements between raised and lowered positions;

(E) a spring normally biasing said push rod to its raised position, the push rod being manually movable against said spring to said lowered position;

(F) a gate member supported on said bracket for swinging movement to opened and closed positions with respect to said discharge opening;

(G) an actuating link connecting said push rod and gate member for closing the gate in the raised posi tion of the push rod and opening the gate in the lower position of the push rod; and

(H) a connection between said push rod and said plunger means for successively advancing it in a downward direction each time the push rod is moved to its lower position.

4. A dentifrice dispensing device, comprising:

(A) a bracket support structure;

(B) a tubular container for dentrifrice removably supsupported by said bracket,

(a) said container being open at one end and having a restricted side discharge opening adjacen its'other end;

(C) plunger means in said container;

(D) a vertical push rod supported by said bracket for endwise movements between raised and lowered positions; 7

(E) a spring normally biasing said push rod to its raised position, the push rod being manually movable against said spring to said lowered position;

(F) a gate member supported on said bracket for swinging movement to opened and closed positions with respect to said discharge opening;

(G) an actuating link connecting said push rod and gate member for closing the gate in the raised position of the push rod and opening the gate in the lowered position of the push rod; and

(H) a lost motion connection between said push rod and said plunger, whereby initial movement of the pushrod towards its lowered position operates to open said gate and thereafter advance said plunger in a downward direction.

5. A dentifrice dispensing device, comprising:

(A) a bracket support structure;

(B) a tubular container for dentifrice removably supported by said bracket,

(or) said container being open at one end and having a restricted side discharge opening adjacent its other end;

(C) plunger means in said container including (a) a piston and (b) a piston rod; (D) a swingably mounted lever on said bracket; (E) a vertical push rod supported by said bracket for endwise movements between raised and lowered positions; (F) a spring normflly biasing said push rod to its raised position, the push rod being movable against said spring to said lowered position;

(G) a gate member supported on said bracket-for swinging movement to opened and closed positions With respect to said discharge opening;

(H) an actuating link connecting said push rod and gate member for closing the gate in the raised position of the push rod and opening the gate in the lowered position of the push rod; (1) a connection between said lever and said piston rod adapted to advance said piston downwardly in re- 6 sponse to swinging movement of said lever in one direction; and (I) a digitally operable member carried by said lever having a 10st motion connection therewith,

(a) said member being initially operable to move said push rod and thereafter move said lever in said one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,896,750 Maas Feb. 7, 1933 2,533,282 Osman Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 34,941 Switzerland Sept. 23, 1905 

2. A DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A FLOWABLE MATERIAL, COMPRISING: (A) A BRACKET SUPPORT STRUCTURE; (B) A TUBULAR CONTAINER FOR SAID MATERIAL OPEN AT ONE END AND HAVING A RESTRICTED DISCHARGE OPENING AT ITS OTHER END, (A) SAID CONTAINER BEING ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY SUPPORTED IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION IN SAID BRACKET WITH THE DISCHARGE OPENING DISPOSED DOWNWARDLY; (C) PLUNGER MEANS RECIPROCABLE IN SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING (A) A PISTON AND (B) A PISTON ROD; (D) A PUSH ROD EXTENDING ALONG AND SUPPORTED BY SAID BRACKET FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENTS TO RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS; (E) A GATE MEMBER MOVABLE BY SAID PUSH ROD TO OPENED AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID DISCHARGE OPENING; (F) A SPRING NORMALLY BIASING SAID PUSH ROD TOWARDS ITS RAISED POSITION; AND (G) A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID PUSH ROD AND SAID PISTON ROD CONNECTING THEM FOR UNITARY DOWNWARD MOVEMENT, BUT ENABLING INDEPENDENT AND UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PUSH ROD WITH RESPECT TO SAID PISTON ROD. 